Heartwarming / The Prince of Egypt

Movie

• "Through Heaven's Eyes" is a beautiful song, helping Moses to find something to believe in after leaving Egypt behind.
  • And during it, there's Moses and Tzipporah telling Jethro they want to get married, to which Jethro grabs them both in a hug. In a blending of this and Funny Moments, from their body language alone Moses seems to be going about asking somewhat diplomatically, whilst Tzipporah is much more upfront and aggressive. Both efforts are needless, as Jethro just shrugs and pulls both of them into a bear hug, evidently having absolutely no problem whatsoever. (And as shown by the picture, he performs the wedding himself.)
  • The entire montage is incredibly uplifting. When he left Egypt, Moses's entire life had been utterly destroyed, leaving him with nothing. Over the course of the montage, with the support of Jethro, the new friends he makes, and the woman he grows to love, Moses finds for himself an entirely new and happy life.
  • Even taken totally out of context, the song's lyrics are uplifting and joyful, worthy of being sung in prayer. "You can never see through your eyes on earth: You must look at your life through heaven's eyes." The lesson being that someone who seems insignificant by human standards can still serve a higher purpose.
  • Brian Stokes Mitchell's vocals are some of his very best. Watch his rendition with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir to truly see the joy and enthusiasm he brings to the song.
• Moses is adopted. Rameses, Seti, the Queen, and everyone else never admonishes Moses for this difference, he is treated the same as any other biological son of the Pharaoh of the same age and birth order. Rameses also never uses this difference to delegitimize what Moses does. Also, nobody else from the Hebrew side admonishes Moses for the simple fact of being adopted either.
• It's probably worth mentioning that, in Rameses's favor, he really was once a brother to Moses. When Moses killed an Egyptian, his first reaction was to try to find a way to save his brother and convince him to stay; when Moses came back, his first reaction was to welcome him back with open arms.
  • Even when things in Egypt are falling apart and Moses arrives at the palace for the last time to plead with Rameses, Rameses still shows hints of love for Moses.
    Rameses: "[Y]ou were always there to get me out of trouble again. Why can't things be the way they were before?"
• Speaking of Rameses, how about the first scene where he sees Moses again years after he first fled from Egypt? He doesn't snap at Moses; he doesn't accuse him of abandoning the kingdom. Instead, he gets off his throne and bear hugs Moses. Considering how much their relationship deteriorates after this, it's nice to see that Rameses and Moses still remember their brotherly bond.
  Rameses: Moses? Is it really...?
  • Rameses also tells Moses that he had assumed he was dead. To see your brother, after he ran away into the desert in anguish years ago, and not having any way of knowing if he was alive... it's no wonder Rameses pardons Moses of any wrongdoing and welcomes him home.
  • When Hotep and Huy bring up the reason Moses left (having killed an Egyptian), Rameses immediately pardons him. The crowd in the palace is stunned, but Rameses sees no reason not to keep the same promise he made to his brother years ago, to "make it as though it never happened".
• When Moses parts the Red Sea, the first person to start crossing is Aaron with this beautiful "what are you all waiting for?" smile on his face. It's heartwarming both to see him having totally accepted Moses and to see his beaten-down faith completely restored.
  • Even earlier than that, when Moses comes to announce that Pharaoh has freed the Hebrews, Aaron ducks into his house and returns roughly one second later with his bag on his shoulder, meaning that despite his complaining about Moses before, he was all packed and ready to go for when his little brother accomplished his mission and secured their freedom.
  • At the Red Sea, there's a scene of Aaron coming up to Moses, placing his hand on his brother's shoulder, and them smiling at each other. No words, just two brothers acknowledging faith and trust in each other.
    • To bring this point home, a refresher. Aaron is properly introduced to us as a beaten, borderline paranoid man who is too scared of the Egyptians to be excited about seeing his little brother again. Further, he was the most hostile and disbelieving of the slaves when Moses returned and was still scared when it was revealed to him that the staff's powers were real.
• When the Exodus begins, we see two Egyptian guards throw down their spears and fall in line with the leaving Israelites. When we next see them, they've become just part of the group, helping to cross the Red Sea like they've been with them all along.
• The scene with Moses and the Burning Bush. And then the scene right afterward, where Moses tells the story to Tzipporah with no dialogue.
  • And the scene before that, when he's going out to tend the sheep, he whispers to her that he loves her while she sleeps. They're just so believable as a married couple.
  • Furthermore, Tzipporah makes no "You're crazy!" or "What are you talking about?" gesture. It's clear that she's taking him seriously and believes him from the very start. She's just a bit overwhelmed and needs to sit down to take it all in.
• During the Exodus, as the Cherubic Choir sings a snippet from "The Song of the Sea." As they venture forth from Egypt, the song's tempo is slow, as the Hebrews are hesitant, their steps slow and uncertain. But as the song's tempo increases, we start seeing children playing. A girl offers a tired old woman her hand. A timid girl emerges from behind her mother's cloak and runs ahead, laughing. Two kids are hanging from Moses' staff which he has balanced on his shoulders. A man lifts his infant child in the air. Three young women start dancing. Some people break out musical instruments. The slow build-up from fear to joy as the Hebrews begin to realize that this is not a dream, that they are free of Pharaoh's yoke, is one of the most joyous moments in recent movie history.
  • And during the part where they're crossing the Red Sea, when the lightning just illuminates the water and a whale-shark swimming through, the little girl mentioned above is scared and the old woman from the aforementioned scene puts a comforting hand on her shoulder.
• Queen Tuya comforting Moses after he discovers the truth of his past. Even if the history between the Hebrews and the Egyptians ends badly in this story, you can tell she genuinely loves him, considers him a son, and wants him to be happy.
  • When Moses asks Tuya why they chose him to be a part of their family, she replies with complete sincerity that they didn't, "the gods" did, and to not fret over it because he's her son, and Rameses's little brother, no matter what his true lineage is.
    Queen Tuya: "When the gods send you a blessing/You don't ask why it was sent."
  • Also, the scene where she discovers him in the basket. After a moment of surprise, he gives her the most adorable little baby smile and she just melts, along with the audience. Miriam's relieved prayer in the background make this scene even more beautiful.
  • And immediately afterward: Her handmaidens are looking at her in shock and disapproval; the Queen notices and gives them both an ice-cold Death Glare that makes them immediately back down, before announcing to her young son Rameses that they are going to show Pharaoh "your new baby brother".
    • Even more when one takes into account Seti's regnal dates and realizes that he was not Pharaoh yet: Seti and Tuya had to go to the Pharaoh and argue for Moses' survival... And succeeded.
  • It gives a rather bittersweet notion that, especially when you take into consideration that the Ten Plagues were deliberate middle fingers to the Egyptian pantheon, Moses' survival is the only thing that both Egyptians and Hebrews view as God's work, either from the Hebrew God or someone from the pantheon.
• Rameses being crowned Prince-Regent despite his earlier dressing down, showing that not only does Seti think his eldest son is not actually weak and worthless, but that he also values his youngest son - Moses - as it was his idea in the first place (something Tuya makes explicit to Moses) to give Rameses some responsibility.
  • And what is Rameses' first act as Prince-Regent? To put one of his rings on Moses's finger and appoint him Royal Chief Architect, to the applause of the crowd. This is supposed to be an event celebrating Rameses, and his first concern is to make sure that his brother shares in the glory. The joyful look on Moses' face shows just how much this gesture means to him.^note Of course, it's debatable whether Moses is actually qualified for the position of chief architect, but that's beside the point.
• When Moses makes Tzipporah fall into the fountain, demeaning and humiliating her, he looks toward his mother for some sort of approval. Instead, Tuya turns away in shame, implying that - even though a Queen of Egypt - she feels sympathy for her.
• Moses, Tzipporah, Miriam, and Aaron seen at the end. All walking together after the Hebrews have been redeemed from Egypt:
  • Moses and Tzipporah hugging one another, with the former planting a soft kiss on his wife's head.
  • Seeing Miriam holding a tambourine in her hand somehow made the scene even better.
    • A tambourine is called "Miriam's drum" in Hebrew.
  • "Look. Look at your people, Moses. They are free."
• Near the end of the film, when Moses shares a hug with Miriam, he tells her, "Thank you," showing his gratitude for her support, love, and unshakable faith in him and God. That little "thank you" shows just how much Moses appreciates what Miriam has done for him in terms of her support.
• Just the presence of God when He's with Moses seems like a genuine parent-child relationship, which is fitting considering God can be referred to as Father. Especially when He yells at Moses for arguing with Him about not doing what He says, just like any parent would. But then seeing Moses in a hunched position like a scared child, God very quickly comforts him, letting Moses know that He is there for him, again like any loving parent would.
  • The way Moses looks after his encounter with the burning bush also qualifies. He's wide-eyed, smiling, and breathless, with an astonished tear running down his face...that is the look of someone who's just had a run-in with the divine, and it's not even a uniquely religious thing.
• A brief one, but when Moses goes to confront Ramses a second time, Huy and Hotep can be seen entertaining Ramses's son with magic tricks. It's very sweet.
• There's a brief scene of Ramses and his son smiling together during the "Playing With the Big Boys" scene. The look on their faces and especially the latter's, is adorable.
• Rameses' love towards his son. Making the boy's death even sadder.
• Yocheved's abiding love for all of her children: There's a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment in the prologue where the family is trying to evade the Egyptian guards on their way to the Nile. Three-year-old Aaron darts out nearly within sight of the guards and Yocheved, quick as lightning, pulls him back toward her. And then she runs a hand through his hair.
• Miriam's Big Sister Instinct kicking in with Moses - even when she was seven, when she followed her brother's basket down the Nile, getting dangerously close to the palace, just so she could make sure her baby brother's going to be safe there. No matter what happens over the years, and no matter how badly Moses fails, Miriam is the only one who never stops believing in him. She steps in when a mob of slaves is about to get violent with Moses, very likely saving his life. And he hadn't even apologized to Miriam yet, for how he got violent with her for telling the truth.
• "When You Believe" has several:
  • One of the primary lyrics alone is one: "Though hope is frail, it's hard to kill."
  • Two Egyptian guards, on seeing the Hebrews leaving, throw down their weapons and headdresses and follow. The two are occasionally seen in crowd scenes - notable for being the only two bald heads among the crowd - for the rest of the film.
  • The child's chorus starts as a single voice, only to grow and grow to a giant song. It also marks the song's transition from hesitant joy to exuberant celebration.
  • One of the older Hebrew women stops at an archway as if unsure about continuing on. A young child comes, gently takes her by the hand, and starts leading her onwards, and the older woman gently clasps the child by the hand and lets her lead her on.
  • Towards the end, Aaron comes up to Moses and puts a hand on his shoulder and has on one of the happiest smiles on his face. While he might have had trouble with Moses earlier because of his upbringing among Egyptian royalty, this simple motion without words says Aaron has completely forgiven his brother and has his full trust.
• It's brief, but after Seti gives a harsh scolding to Rameses, Tuya places a soft hand on her husband's shoulder. He immediately softens in demeanor and lets Rameses go.
  • Afterwards, Moses asks why Seti is so hard on Rameses when he knows Moses is usually the one at fault. Rather than dismissing him, Seti explains why, treating Moses as a grown-up: it isn't because of genuine malice or a desire to belittle his eldest son, but rather from a place of sadly necessary severity: Rameses is going to be Pharaoh someday and he has to learn how to act like one. Between this and the way Seti much more gently sends Moses off, one gets the impression that - but for the pressures of ruling - Seti would be a genuinely good dad.
• In the opening, an elderly male Hebrew slave collapses, and a young Nubian slave helps him to his feet, in a beautiful display of solidarity; they come from completely different backgrounds, but this gesture reinforces the point that the Hebrews are not alone in their misery.

The Musical

• When Ramses has been complaining about being engaged to Princess Nefertari, Queen Tuya remarks how she couldn't see how anyone could stand having such a bore as a wife. Seti remarks that he wouldn't know, and they giggle like young lovers.
• Nefertari's Establishing Character Moment is as a haughty Rich Bitch. Ramses asks her genuinely if she is happy with the wedding, she responds in a business-like fashion until Ramses presses her as to whether she ever dreamt of marrying for love as a girl. She suddenly gets very embarrassed, and the two share a sweet moment.
  • This is followed up later when we see them both in mourning for their son, and Nefertari sings how she wants to just break down in despair, but that she has a husband whom she must comfort too.
• Moses shyly gauging Tzipporah's interest in him by using the sheep of his field as hypotheticals. Becomes a Moment of Funny as they note that they will shortly be welcoming a new member of the flock...
• Following Seti's death, Queen Tuya becomes reclusive but summons Moses to her to beg him to resolve his dispute with Ramses. He arrives immediately, saying "Of course I will come if my mother summons me." Despite it all, he still considers her his mother.
• The more upbeat ending, with Ramses actively sparing the life of Moses and the Hebrews, before they part with an embrace, Moses predicting Ramses will once be known as "The Great." From opposite sides of the sea they take comfort in the fact that no matter how difficult they find their vast responsibilities, they have a brother out there who loves them.

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